Enter any address in Union County, New Mexico to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from summer thunderstorms dominates Union County's flood risk. Over the past 30 years, the NOAA Storm Events Database has recorded 31 flash flood events compared to one general flood event. Recent occurrences illustrate this pattern, such as the flash flooding on July 1, 2021, in Grenville, which swept away two cars, and the widespread thunderstorms producing heavy rainfall and flash flooding across the area on July 30, 2022.
Homeowners and residents in Union County should be aware of their specific flood risk, particularly those residing in areas prone to rapid water accumulation during intense rainfall. Properties located in low-lying areas or those without a designated Base Flood Elevation (BFE) may warrant the most attention regarding potential flood impacts.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
18 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Union County, New Mexico has recorded 32 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 31 flash floods and 1 river or area floods. The county has received 7 federal disaster declarations, 1 of which involved flooding or coastal storms. Enter any address above to check its FEMA flood zone designation.
FEMA Disaster Declarations (1973–2020)
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries.
| Declaration | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Covid-19 | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Covid-19 Pandemic | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Hurricane Katrina Evacuation | Hurricane | Aug 29, 2005 |
| Severe Fire Threats | Fire | May 5, 2000 |
| Severe Winter Storm | Severe Storm | Dec 22, 1997 |
| Drought | Drought | Mar 2, 1977 |
| Severe Storms, Snow Melt & Flooding | Flood | May 11, 1973 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flash Flood | Jun 8, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 30, 2022 | 15.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 1, 2021 | 30.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 29, 2020 | 30.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 22, 2019 | 5.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 8, 2019 | 50.00K |
| Flood | Jul 30, 2017 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 29, 2017 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 22, 2017 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 5, 2016 | 0.00K |
Flash Flood — Jun 8, 2025
Daytime heating combined with higher moisture east of a dryline and upper level northwest flow across the northern and central Rockies and Great Plains resulted in the development of severe storms with large hail across Colfax, Union and far northeast Harding Counties during the late afternoon and evening hours before exiting into West Texas after midnight. A more potent shortwave at the base o...
Flash Flood — Jul 30, 2022
The end of July continued to be busy for meteorologists at the Albuquerque National Weather Service Office as numerous thunderstorms impacted the area on July 30, 2022. With well above normal moisture available in the atmosphere, these thunderstorms were robust and very capable of producing heavy rainfall. Several flash flooding reports were received, including in the Rio Rancho and Edgewood ar...
Flash Flood — Jul 1, 2021
An abundant amount of atmospheric moisture remained in place across New Mexico on July 1, 2021, which set the stage for another round of widespread thunderstorms across the area. Temperatures also continued to warm several degrees which allowed for more instability across northern and central New Mexico. The result was deeper and more robust convection that produced heavy rainfall across portio...
Flash Flood — Aug 29, 2020
A backdoor cold front that moved through eastern and central New Mexico late August 28, 2020, replenished low-level moisture across the plains. A weak upper-level trough that was moving through southern Colorado and northeastern New Mexico provided additional lift and wind shear to produce isolated severe thunderstorms in the area. Upslope flow allowed for thunderstorms to form early in the day...
Flash Flood — Jul 22, 2019
A rich plume of moisture in place over eastern New Mexico on July 21, 2019 allowed widespread showers and thunderstorms with locally heavy rainfall to impact much of the area through July 22, 2019. Several clusters of thunderstorms with rainfall amounts between one and two inches moved repeatedly over areas of eastern New Mexico during the early morning hours of July 22nd. Minor flooding was re...
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
FEMA assigns flood zone designations to areas in Union County, New Mexico:
AE High Risk — 1% annual chance of flooding. Insurance required.
VE Very High Risk — Coastal flooding with wave action.
X (Shaded) Moderate Risk — 500-year floodplain.
X Low Risk — Outside major floodplains.
Properties in Union County, New Mexico that are in FEMA-designated Special Flood Hazard Areas (zones A and V) with federally backed mortgages are required to carry flood insurance.
Even outside high-risk zones, flood insurance is recommended. From 2014 to 2024, nearly one-third of NFIP claims came from outside the high-risk Special Flood Hazard Area.
Visit FloodSmart.gov to find an agent and get a quote.